Mount Tarampa State School facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Mount Tarampa State School
Mount Tarampa State School, 2014
Location	9 Profkes Road, Mount Tarampa, Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia
Built	1906, 1912, 1918
Architect	Queensland Department of Public Works

Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Mt Tarampa State School
Type	state heritage
Designated	1 May 2015
Reference no.	602853
Type	Education, research, scientific facility: School-state
Theme	Educating Queenslanders: Providing primary schooling
Builders	C Risdale

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Mount Tarampa State School is a special school with a long history. It is located at 9 Profkes Road in Mount Tarampa, Queensland, Australia. The school was designed by the Queensland Department of Public Works and built in 1906. It was first known as Mount Tarampa Provisional School. This school is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 1 May 2015.

A Look Back: The School's History

Mount Tarampa State School first opened its doors on 23 July 1906. Back then, it was called Mount Tarampa Provisional School. It started on a 2-acre site in the small farming area of Mount Tarampa. The school was built to teach the growing number of children in the countryside.

How the School Grew

When more families moved to the area, the school needed to get bigger. Around 1916, the school building was made larger. In 1918, a house for the teacher was also built. Other important parts were added over time, like a play shed in 1912 and a tennis court before 1925. Trees were also planted to make the school grounds nicer.

The school has been open non-stop since it began. It has always been a key place for the local community. Many social and cultural events have happened here over the years.

Why Schools Were So Important

Providing education was very important to the government in early Queensland. After the Education Act of 1860, schools became more organised. By 1875, there were 230 schools in Queensland. The State Education Act of 1875 made primary education free and required children to attend. This helped most Queensland children learn to read and write by 1900.

Building schools was a big step for new communities. Local people often helped by donating land or their time to build schools. Schools became a symbol of progress and a source of pride. Many people felt a strong connection to their school, including past students, parents, and teachers.

What Was a Provisional School?

In early Queensland, provisional schools were a simple way to teach children in rural areas. These schools could open with as few as 15 students. Local communities helped set up these schools and find a teacher. The government would pay the teacher's salary. If there were fewer students, the school could close easily. If the area grew, a provisional school could become a state school.

The first Mount Tarampa school building was a typical provisional school design. It was a single room with a gable roof and a front verandah. It was built by C Risdale for about £101.

Becoming a State School

Mount Tarampa Provisional School became a state school in 1909. At this time, the government made it easier for provisional schools to become state schools. They lowered the number of students needed for a state school from 30 to 12.

When Mount Tarampa became a state school, some changes were made. A back verandah was added, and new doorways were put in. The school building also got a fresh coat of paint.

Places to Play: The Playshed

The Queensland education system knew that play was important. They also saw the need for covered outdoor spaces. Playsheds were built as separate shelters. They had seats and dirt floors, offering a place to play or even teach lessons when needed.

A playshed was built at Mount Tarampa School by C Risdale and finished by March 1912. It was a standard design with six posts and a hipped roof.

Growing Bigger: School Extensions

By 1914, there were 52 children at Mount Tarampa State School. This meant the verandahs were being used for teaching! The School Committee asked for the building to be made even bigger.

In July 1916, the school was extended. A new classroom was added to the northern side. Windows were moved to let in more natural light, which was important for students. Desks were often arranged so light came from the left side of students.

A Home for the Teacher

In 1918, a house for the teacher was built for £588. It was ready for the teacher to move in by February 1919. This teacher's house had two bedrooms. These homes were usually separate from the school buildings, with their own fenced yard and gardens.

More Space for Fun and Learning

The number of students kept growing at Mount Tarampa State School. This led to more improvements in the 1920s. By 1925, 67 children were attending. The school bought more land in 1922 for extra play space and a horse paddock. A tennis court was also built by 1925 and used for school matches.

Planting trees and creating gardens was also important for schools. This was part of making schools beautiful and teaching students about hard work. Arbor Day celebrations, where trees were planted, started in Queensland in 1890. Some old trees still stand at Mount Tarampa State School today, including a Bunya tree and a large bottle tree. Three big date palms are in the teacher's residence garden.

Recent Changes and Celebrations

Not much changed at the school in the years after World War II. Around 1955, a verandah and bathroom were added to the teacher's house.

In the 1960s to 1980s, Queensland education changed a lot. New building materials and ideas meant school designs also changed. In the mid-1980s, Mount Tarampa State School got a new modular building and an extension to its library in 1986. A covered play area was built the next year.

The school celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1981 and its 100th anniversary in 2006. For these big events, special books were printed about the school's history.

Between 2005 and 2014, the playshed was enclosed with metal sheets and glass doors and windows. The school continues to operate today and is a very important part of the Mount Tarampa community.

What the School Looks Like Today

Site map, 2015

Mount Tarampa State School is on a raised area of about 2 hectares. It sits at the corner of Profkes and Mount Tarampa roads. The school has several older buildings, including the original provisional school building, the teacher's house, and the playshed. There's also a tennis court and many old trees. The school stands out in its rural setting.

The Original School Building (1906)

Provisional school building, 2014

The first school building faces east towards Profkes Road. It is a small, one-storey timber building with a gable roof. It has a front and back verandah and two rooms inside. The ends of the building have tall, timber-framed windows that are protected by timber hoods.

Both the front and back verandahs have stairs. The front verandah has exposed roof timbers and square timber posts. The southern end of the front verandah is now a staff kitchen. The back verandah is enclosed and used as staff offices. The walls of the verandahs still have old timber-framed windows. You enter the building through original timber doors.

Inside, the building was once one large classroom. Now, it is divided into two rooms by a central hallway. The walls and ceilings are lined with timber boards.

The Teacher's House (1918)

Teacher's residence (rear view), 2014

The teacher's house is a high-set timber building with a hipped roof. It faces Profkes Road. The bedrooms and living rooms are on the north and east sides. The kitchen is in the southwest corner. You can enter the house from central stairs at the front (east) and back (west). The front verandah has timber posts. The back verandah has been enclosed to create more living space.

Around 1955, an extension was added to the north side, creating another living space and a bathroom. The house has many timber-framed windows, including original double-hung windows. The area under the house has timber screens.

The inside of the house is mostly original. There's a central hallway with two rooms on each side. The front two rooms are bedrooms, and a bedroom and kitchen are at the back. The kitchen has a special area for a stove and a pantry. The walls are lined with timber boards.

The Playshed (1912)

The playshed is located south of the main school building. It is a timber-framed shelter with six posts and a hipped roof. It used to be open on all sides but has now been enclosed with modern metal sheets. It has a concrete floor and a flat ceiling has been added.

School Grounds and Outdoor Spaces

The grounds of Mount Tarampa State School are well-kept and have many old trees. There are three date palms in the teacher's house yard. A large bottle tree stands near the fence between the school and the house. A mature Bunya pine is at the front of the school near Profkes Road. Other trees line the edges of the school property.

A tennis court is located northwest of the school building. It has a modern surface and is surrounded by a tall wire fence.

Why This Place is Special

Mount Tarampa State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 1 May 2015 because it is very important.

Showing How Education Changed

Mount Tarampa State School shows how state education and school buildings have changed in Queensland. It still has good examples of standard government designs. These include the original provisional school building (1906), the playshed (1912), and the teacher's house (1918). These buildings are set within school grounds that have important features like old trees and a tennis court.

A Typical Queensland School

Mount Tarampa State School is a great example of a Queensland state school. It has buildings built to standard designs by the Department of Public Works. It is on a large site with mature trees and a tennis court. The school is a good example of a smaller, regional school with its simple teaching building that has been changed over time.

The original school building (1906, extended 1916) is a very good example of its type. It is low-set with front and back verandahs (now partly enclosed). It is made of timber and has a gable roof, coved ceiling, and original doors and windows. It still has its natural lighting and ventilation features.

The playshed (1912) has a hipped timber-framed roof supported by timber posts. All sides are now enclosed.

The teacher's house (1918) is an excellent example of a teacher's residence from that time. It is a high-set timber building with a hipped roof. It has three bedrooms, a kitchen with a stove area, and front and back verandahs (the back verandah is now enclosed).

Important to the Community

Schools have always been a vital part of communities in Queensland. They connect with former students, parents, and teachers. They are places for social events and volunteer work. Schools are a source of pride and show the progress of a local area.

Mount Tarampa State School has a strong and ongoing connection with the Mount Tarampa community. It has been open since 1906, and many generations of children have learned there. The school is important for helping Mount Tarampa grow through education. It is also a main gathering place for social events, with strong support from the community.